Cleaning apparatus



April 17, 1951 L. DURHAM 2,549,181

CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 31, 1948 g; a [I g Q2 NJ? (\1 3525 .27Zcvr LUTHER DURHAM gym-v Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CLEANING APPARATUS Luther Durham, Aurora, 111.

Application December 31, 1948, Serial No. 68,540

3 Claims. 1

This invention, relates to improvements in cleaning apparatus and moreparticularly to the depositing chamber therefor, wherein the air isrelieved of dirt, dust and water or other cleaning liquids removed from.the articles cleaned.

The usual vacuum cleaning apparatus removes dirt and dust from rugs,carpets, tapestry, upholstered work, and the like. Cleaning operationsare performed on dry articles because the mechanism of the vacuumcleaner is not constructed to remove or hold liquids. To, do so wouldrequire waterproofing, by shielding or other means, of the electricmotor which drives the suction fan and providing a watertight depositingcontainer other than the usual dust-proof fabric or paper bag.

The dry removal of dust and dirt by a suction type vacuum cleaner is notentirely satisfactory. During cleaning operations, much of the disturbeddust becomes suspended in the surrounding air and thereby escapes thecleaner. The result is unhealthy both because dust and germs are inhaledand because they come in contact with the mouth, after settling oneatables, cooking and eating utensils, drinking cups and glasses,toothbrushes, medical and dental instru ments, and the like.

My invention seeks to eliminate these objectional features in suctioncleaners. By scrubbing with soap and water, or other cleaning liquids,the particles of dust and dirt or other solids in the articles to becleaned are picked up by the solution and carried in suspension. Thiseliminates the dust becoming air-borne. In removing from the articles tobe cleaned the cleaning liquid containing the particles of dirt,however, it is not possible to do so by the usual types of vacuumcleaners as they are not constructed either to remove or to holdliquids. It is necessary, therefore, to provide apparatus which willremove cleaning liquids from articles being cleaned and to collect boththe liquids and any suspended particles of dirt for disposal.

Accordingly, it is an important object of my invention to providecleaning apparatus capable of removing dirt-laden cleaning liquids fromarticles cleaned and collecting the liquids for disposal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a suction operateddepositing chamber for cleaning apparatus which chamber is soconstructed that air drawn from an article being cleaned and carryingdislodged dirt and liquid to the chamber is completely relieved from itsload of foreign matter thereby effecting the flow of clean,moisture-free air to the suction side of the chamber.

A still further object of this invention is to provide in cleaningapparatus'a suction operated depositing chamber having means forcutting-off the suction therefrom whenever deposited liquid in thechamber rises to a predetermined level.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in cleaningapparatus a depositing chamber for receiving dirt-laden moisture andliquid and which apparatus is actuated by any source of suction orvacuum including a house-type vacuum cleaner.

Another and further object of this invention is the provision ofcleaning apparatus which is portable and easily transported from placeto place and yet sufficiently large to receive cleaning liquid fromlarge areas.

Another and still further object of this invention is the provision ofan improved cleaning apparatus which is simple in construction,economical to manufacture, and highly eflicient in operation.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the annexed sheetof drawings.

On the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation, partly fragmentary and partly incross-section, illustrating details of construction of a cleaningapparatus embodying principles of my invention; and,

Figure 2 is an end view thereof.

As shown on the drawings:

The cleaning apparatus illustrated includes a depositing chamberconstruction l0 into which moisture or liquid and dirt laden air iscaused to flow by means of a source of suction which, in the presentinstance, is a house-type vacuum cleaner H. The chamber comprises a tankor reservoir 12 supported on legs [3 and M which have casters l5 mountedthereon for transportability of the apparatus.

A shelf l6, connected tothe tank by means of legs I! and [8, supportsthe vacuum cleaner H in order that the apparatus be transportable as aunit. It is to be understood, however, that this invention is notconfined to the combination with a vacuum cleaner as any source ofsuction may be used equally as well. In the usual construction of avacuum cleaner, there is provided an opening in the suction fan casingto which cleaner attachments may be removably fastened. As shown inFigure 1, a flexible hose I9 is connected at one end 20 by any suitablemeans to the suction casing 2|. At its other end 22, the hose isattached by means of a tubular nipple 23 to a filter or moisture trap24.

For purposes of convenience only, the filter construction is removablymounted on the tank by means of legs 25, 25. This construction permitsready access through a cover 26 hinged at 21, 21 but which normally iskept tightly closed. As shown, a matting of suitable fibrous material 283 is provided as a filter, the function of which is more fully describedhereinafter.

Extending between the filter 24 and the tank or reservoir I2 is acylinder 29 having one end terminating under or within the fibrousmatting and its other end terminating in the upper portion of the tank.If desired, the upper end may be sealed and an opening provided in thecap to act as a bearing for a valve actuating'stem 3B. In eitherconstruction, an opening such as 3| is provided through a sidewall ofthe cylinder. This opening provides both a pathway for fluids .flow' ingup through the cylinder to pass through the filter matting 28, for areason to be fully explainedlater, and a drainage opening for anymoisture or liquids removed by the filters' At the lower end of the stem3!! is secured a float 3! of sufiicient weight to maintain the stem inits lowermost position but light enough to rise with the level of liquid32'. A guide member 33,-carried by the stem, is movable within thecylinder to constantly maintain the stem in a centered position therein.a

A valve 34 is carried by the cover 26 of the filter '24. The valveincludes an upper section 35 and a lower section 36 bolted or otherwisesecured together as at 31. Valve section 36 is provided with atransverse wall having a tapered opening therethrough defining a valveseat 38. A tapered valve 39 is carried by the stem 30 and normallycomplementally seats on the valve seat 38 thereby limiting downwardmovement of the float.

At one end of the tank i2 there is provided a tubular member 40terminating within the interior of its tank in a deflector or bafile 4|The other terminal of the tubular member has attached a hose 42 havingon its free end a broom or suction nozzle 43.

' The operation of the device is as follows: The

suction source, in this case a vacuum cleaner 'll of the hand operatedtype having a handle 44 and a dust collecting bag 55, is set inoperation. Suction is then exerted through the hose I9, the reservoiror'tank l2, and thehose 42. Asthe broom Or suction nozzle 23' is movedover a surface which has been scrubbed with a cleaning liquid, theliquid and any dust or dirt held in suspension is mixed with air anddrawn through the hose 42 into the tank 12. Baflie M is sufflcientiylong to permit liquid and solids of dirt and dust held in suspension torun to the bottom of the tank where the solids precipitate. The baiiletends also to minimize agitation thereby aiding in the settling offoreign'matter in the tank. When it becomes necessary, collected liquidsmay be drained away through faucet 4-6. A door 4? makes theinterior ofthe tank accessible for cleaning purposes. This door is normally lockedby a latch 48.

Suction exerted by the vacuum cleaner through the filter 24 drawsmoisture-laden air along a path indicated by arrows. This path is upwardthrough the cylinder 29 and the filter matting 28, and-into the nipple23 and hose 22. The air finally is exhaustedthrou'gh the cleanercollecting bag.

Inasmuch as the vacuum cleaner is of a nonwaterproof type, it isnecessary to remove any moisture from the air before it reaches thecleaner. This'is done in the filter matting 28. A fibrous matting isprovided which is inert or impervious to water or other cleaning liquidsused. Such a matting could be formed of glass fibers, hair,bristles,'fine wire, filaments of metal, or

any other material not affected by the cleaning liquid. Filteredmoisture and liquid flows through the'opening 3|, down the cylinder, andback to the tank. ,7

As the level of deposited cleaning liquid 32 rises, the weight or float3| resists movement until determined for at that level the mechanism nowto be described automatically cuts oil the flow of air from the interiorof the tank through the filter.

Thefioat 3| is normally positioned as shown in full lines in whichposition the valve 34 is closed. When the float becomes buoyant it risesto a position shown in dotted lines and the valve 34 is opened as thetapered: valve member 39 rises fr'o'in'its seat '38. -With the'rvalveopened, suction from the vacuum cleaner is exerted on the atmos phererather than through the fibrous matting. 28. Ascreen 49 is'provided onthe dome of the valve to eliminate the entry of dust; dirt and otherforeign matter. It then becomes necessary to draw off excess cleaningliquid from the tank 12 until the float again drops to its lower mostposition to close the valve 34. i

It will be apparent that my cleaning apparatus particularly lends itselfto operations wherever it is desired that dust and dirt not bedisturbediduring cleaning. The use of such apparatus has been found tobe especially desirablein medical, dental and food establishments. i

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely. as todetails, yet it is to be understood that the invention is .not limitedthereby, as changes may be made in the arrangementand proportion ofparts and equivalents may be substituted, vwithout departing fromthe'spirit and laden with said solids and liquids are drawn by saidsuction, a filter chamber having therein a fibrous matting filter, atubular member connecting said filter and depositing chambers anddefining a pathway for the flow of air therebetween and through saidfibrous matting, a suction pathway connecting the source of suction withsaid filter chamber on the side of the flbrous mattingopposite theconnecting cylinder, a valve. connecting the atmosphere to the same sideof the filter chamber as the source of suction, said valve having a seatand a closure memher, a float, and a shaft connecting said float andvalve closure member, the Weight of said .fioat being such as to effectbuoyancy thereof. at a predetermined level of collected liquid in saiddepositing. chamber whereby to open said valve, said valve'whenopenedconnecting said source of suction with the atmosphere and when closedconnecting the source to said depositing and filter chambers whereby todraw. air from the depositing chamber through the filter chamber.

' 2. In cleaning apparatus adapted forconnection to and operation with asource of suction Such as a vacuum cleaner whereby to remove dirt solidsand cleaning liquids from articles cleaned, a depositing chamber intowhich air laden'with said" solids-and liquids are drawn by said suction,a filter chambe having therein a fibrous matting'filter, a cylinderconnecting said filter and depositing'chambers and defining a pathwayfor the flow of air therebetween and through said fibrous matting, asuction pathway connecting the source of suction with said filterchamber on the side of the fibrous matting opposite the connectingcylinder, a valve connecting the atmosphere to the same side of thefilter chamber as the source of suction, said valve having a seat and aclosure member adapted to engage said seat and close the valve, a float,a shaft extending through said cylinder and connecting said float andsaid valve closure member, and a guide member in said cylinder formaintaining said shaft in centered alignment therein and said valveparts in alignment with each other, the Weight of said float being suchas to effect buoyancy thereof at "a predetermined level of collectedliquid in said depositing chamber whereby to efiect opening of thevalve, said valve when opened connecting said source of suction with theatmosphere and when closed connecting the source to said depositing andfilter chambers whereby to draw air from the depositing chamber throughthe filter chamber.

3. In cleaning apparatus adapted for connection to and operation with asource of suction, a depositing chamber into which air laden with solidsand liquids are drawn by said suction, a filtering chamber havingtherein a filter, a fluid flow passageway connecting said depositing andfiltering chambers and defining a pathway through said filter, a suctionpathway connecting bers whereby to draw air from the depositing chamberinto the filtering chamber and through said ifilter.

LUTHER DURHAM.

FEEFERENCES GITED The following references are of record in the tile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 963,139 Griffiths July 5, 19101,512,358 Neill Oct. 21, 1924 2,114,780 Juelson Apr. 19, 1938 2,219,567Speilman Oct. 29, 1940 2,327,181 Dunbar Aug. 17, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 12,636 Netherlands Jan. 16, 1938

